Car Emergency Kit: What You Need

When you drive a vehicle there are certain responsibilities that you have, such as staying safe. In some countries you are required by law to carry a car emergency kit; here we will discuss what you need. You may think that you never need one, but you never know when something can happen – so it is always best to be prepared.

In this day and age there are a number of cars that have run-flat tires, but there are still those that can still get a flat, which is why one of the most important things to have is a spare one or special foam to re-inflate and seal the tire. You may think that we are stupid when we say carry a spare wheel, but some cars do not come with one as standard.

Many of us have roadside assistance, but what if they are unable to get to you fast, or it is something simple? So two things that you should always have on you are spare fuses and bulbs. It is always best to be prepared, and you can get these in a basic emergency kit, which can be purchased from an auto store, or even somewhere like Walmart.

A few of the basic items that we believe that you should carry include:

Basic tools

Blankets

Cell Phone

Fire extinguisher

First-aid kit

Flashlight

Foam tire sealant or a portable compressor

Small folding shovel

Spare fuses

Warning light, hazard triangle, or flares

Windshield scraper

A few years ago we would have suggested a CB Radio and an instant flash camera, and a pen and paper. The reason that we do not suggest this now is all thanks to one device, the smartphone. We do not need any of these things now, as your trusty iPhone, Android handset or BlackBerry has this all covered.

What items do you carry on you to stay safe, or have you just got a small car emergency kit?

was taking some driver's ed renew-your-license class in Brazil and the lady asked me if it's required by law to keep one or two triangles in the car…..she caught me off guard, but I think the answer is….none, right?

John Friedson

A flashlight? Only if you remember to change the batteries every year! Better to use lightsticks – US made Cyalume's have 4 year shelf lives…. jf